On Thursday, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said only one of the state's 12 underground coal mines was still exceeding dust limits.

"Eight mines over the past 12 months have been directed to either improve monitoring or bring respirable dust levels back into compliance," he said.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche would not comment specifically on the dust levels at Carborough Downs mine.

"Queensland has a rigorous and transparent system of compliance with regulated dust levels," he said.

"Any non-compliance in mines should be addressed quickly and decisively and in the meantime workers should be provided appropriate protective equipment to guard against exposure to excessive dust levels."

The 2014-15 Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health Annual Performance Report said dust levels had risen "steeply" from 2012 to 2014.

"Sixty per cent of mines exposed longwall operators to levels equal to or greater than the adjusted regula- tory exposure limit during 2014 compared with 10 % in 2012," the report read.